Mrs. Carter Show

A global spectacle of royal themes, female empowerment, and record-breaking revenue across seven legs and 132 shows.

The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour stands as the fifth major concert tour by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé, announced in February 2013 with an initial run across Europe and North America. Spanning seven legs and a total of 132 shows, the tour began in Belgrade, Serbia, on April 15, 2013, and concluded in Lisbon, Portugal, on March 27, 2014. The project was defined by royal themes where Beyoncé emulated various queens through fashion collaborations with numerous designers. Critics lauded the production for its energetic performances, dancing, and vocal abilities, while the tour itself became a financial powerhouse, grossing $229.7 million in total.

Quick Facts

Artist: Beyoncé
Release era: April 2013 (Tour Start)
Associated tour: The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour
Status: Highest-grossing female and solo tour of 2013

Lore & Background

The tour's narrative centered on Beyoncé embracing her identity as Mrs. Carter while asserting herself as a modern-day feminist. Following the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show on February 3, 2013, she announced the tour, referencing her marriage to Shawn 'Jay-Z' Carter despite initial criticism from feminists. During a Vogue interview, Beyoncé explained, "I feel like Mrs. Carter is who I am, but more bold and more fearless than I've ever been," noting that meeting her child clarified her purpose.

Visually, the show featured royal aesthetics, with posters depicting her in Victorian golden royal tops and crowns referencing Queen Elizabeth I. The setlist evolved significantly; the 2013 leg included approximately twenty-five songs from her first four solo albums—Dangerously in Love, B'Day, I Am... Sasha Fierce, and 4—with seven tracks specifically from 4. After releasing her self-titled fifth album in late 2013, the 2014 shows incorporated eight new songs from that record, replacing many previous numbers.

Reader's Guide

Fans attending the tour witnessed a high-fashion evolution where Beyoncé collaborated with designers like Emilio Pucci, Riccardo Tisci (Givenchy), The Blonds, DSQUARED2, and later Tom Ford and Versace for the 2014 leg. A standout moment was the gold bodysuit by The Blonds, hand-embroidered in 600 hours with 30,000 Swarovski crystals to create an illusion of crystallized honey; it featured golden breast-cups with complete nipple detail and divided critics.

Stuart Weitzman designed military-element shoes for the singer and band, focusing on danceability. The tourbook illustrated these visual aspects, while makeup themes drew from cosmic stars, film noir, 60's London, and cyber beauty. Commercially, the tour sold out immediately upon announcement, prompting added dates. It grossed $188.6 million in 2013 and $41.1 million in 2014, securing its status as the highest-grossing female and solo tour of 2013.

Did You Know?

Eight hundred dancers auditioned for the tour, but only females were selected to join the performance.
The gold bodysuit worn in 2013 took 600 hours to hand-embroider and used approximately 30,000 Swarovski crystals.
Beyoncé banned all photographers except her personal photographer Frank Micelotta after unflattering Super Bowl photos appeared on sites like Gawker.
The tour included a B-stage where Beyoncé flew over the crowd on a rope to perform three songs midway through the set.
A $25,000 auction hosted by Beyoncé and her mother Tina Knowles allowed the winner to assist in the wardrobe department for a Los Angeles concert.